With computers having an impact on our everyday life from telling the time to controlling the dashboard of our vehicles, computers have made our lives much more convenient than it was 30 years ago. As much as something can make for a safer and easier life, in the wrong hands, those advantages can quickly become disadvantages and can be utilized for nefarious purposes. Three ways that computers have made for an easier and safe life have been in improving communication, easier shopping accessibility, and better information access.
Computers have improved communication from the days of the rotary phone. You are able to call anyone, anywhere without accruing a long-distance bill and also able to hear them more clear and concise. According to Turner (2022), Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone back in 1876 and dreamt that one telephone would be ‘one in every town’. Today, this has expanded to the making of the cellphone and can be found now on about every person. Turner (2022), has mentioned that “technology has seen the traditional audio call being edged out in favor of messaging and social media as a way of touching base.” According to Turner (2022), “thanks to lockdowns and social distancing, families and friends are meeting up and socializing via video call more than ever before. Video messaging allows for not only hearing family members thousands of miles away, but being able to see them in real time as well, minus the actual touch.
Computers have made it easier to shop for things you need and for things you want as well. With the pandemic and social distancing, ordering items from amazon and just having them arrive at your doorstep has become such a seamless process now also, you have the ability to shop for your groceries and either use contactless pickup or have them delivered to your home and have someone else do the shopping for you. The pandemic has also made available the opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their businesses from home without the need for a brick-and-mortar store to start their respective businesses. For shopping in person, the pandemic brought about the use of contactless payment with your phone or card without swiping it and alleviating the need for physical cash carrying.
Computers have also made for more thorough access to information. Thirty years ago, to complete a research paper, you had to go to a library, print pages, check-out books and hope your particular library had what you needed. Now you have information at your fingertips literally. You can get access to almost any journal articles through the library or utilize the google search engine to find the sources you need. Any question you have, you can just search for it and more times than none, you will find the answers you seek.
Of course, the disadvantages that come with these three benefits are that having a phone for voice and video calls, these platforms can get hacked, and there are AI and voice replicating technology that can be used to manipulate someone and take advantage of a situation. For convenient shopping, if a company is breached, the data obtained can be used for purposes otherwise intended and with having access to information, ensuring that the sites that are being utilized are reputable sites and not fake pages with the intent of gaining access to your device or personal information.

Reference:
Turner, J. (2022, August 24). The 7 Main Ways Technology Impacts Your Daily Life. Tech.co. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://tech.co/vpn/main-ways-technology-impacts-daily-life